TRACK & CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS – Physicians/Scientists/Pharmacists
Cardiovascular
Basic Science: Pre-clinical in vitro, ex vivo, or in vivo studies in cardiac or vascular disorders using cells and tissues
(including of human origin), animal models; camera and computer development specific to the cardiovascular system;
studies of novel radiopharmaceuticals and non-nuclear probes for molecular imaging or use of isotopes for therapeutic
applications in vascular disorders, including initial evaluation of their potential therapeutic efficacy in pre-clinical
models.
Clinical Science: Clinical cardiac and vascular studies. This category includes both PET and conventional instrumentation
and radionuclides.
Cardiovascular Young Investigator Award Symposium: SNM-sponsored symposium and competition, in association with
the SNM Cardiovascular Council, for the best scientific abstracts on basic or clinical cardiovascular nuclear medicine. The
objectives of the award are to identify promising young investigators working in cardiovascular nuclear medicine.
Applicants must be medical students, residents, fellows or graduate students, or be within 5 years of completing a
Ph.D. or certified nuclear medicine training program or other residency or fellowship training program to be eligible
for consideration (there is no age limit). All former first-prize winners are ineligible. To be considered for any YIA
symposium, submitting authors must check the designated box during abstract submission. Only abstracts submitted to
categories within the Cardiovascular track will be considered for this awards symposium.
Neurosciences
Basic Science: Evaluation of radiotracers and non-nuclear probes for molecular imaging for studying the CNS,
including assessment of neuroreceptor systems, enzymes, gene expression, metabolic pathways and interaction of drugs
with receptor systems (these may be in vitro or in vivo pre-clinical studies using animal models, or initial studies in
humans); novel applications or methods of analysis in animals or humans which are not well-established or when the
pathology is used as part of the validation of a method or a molecular imaging probe.
Neurology: Clinical investigations of neurologic disorders with established radiopharmaceuticals; clinical studies using
newer radiotracers for neuroreceptor systems, enzymes, metabolic pathways, etc., to investigate disease
pathophysiology; studies of tumors in the CNS; functional brain mapping studies in patients and normal subjects.
Psychiatry: Clinical investigations of psychiatric disorders with established radiopharmaceuticals; clinical studies using
newer radiotracers for neuroreceptor systems, enzymes, metabolic pathways, etc., to investigate the pathophysiology of
psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders are considered broadly and include drug and alcohol abuse.
Brain Imaging Council (Neurosciences) Young Investigator Award Symposium: SNM-sponsored symposium
and competition, in association with the SNM Brain Imaging Council, for the best scientific abstracts on neurosciences
nuclear medicine. Only abstracts submitted to categories within the Neurosciences Track will be considered for the Brain
Imaging Council Young Investigator Award Symposium. Applicants must be medical students, residents, fellows or
graduate students, or be within 5 years of completing a Ph.D. or certified nuclear medicine training program or other
residency or fellowship training program to be eligible for consideration (there is no age limit).
Instrumentation & Data Analysis
Some presentation topics may span two or three categories. Please try to select the most appropriate one in terms of
the data stream: Instrumentation -> Image Generation -> Data Analysis. It may help to consider which peer group or
audience you think should be the most interested in the material you will present.
Instrumentation: Development and evaluation of new instrumentation, new applications of existing instrumentation,
and/or performance evaluation techniques.
Image Generation: Reconstruction algorithms (including comparison of methods); digital filtering; corrections for
physical and systematic effects such as scatter, attenuation and motion correction.
Data Analysis & Management: Tracer kinetic modeling and parameter estimation methodology (submission to a basic
science category in another track (e.g., Oncology-Basic or Neurosciences) should be considered if an established model
is being used in a new clinical or research application); statistical analysis methods; image registration techniques;
impact of image acquisition or processing on parameter estimation. Also included are topics on image displays, the use
of Internet methods, image atlases and other data management systems.
Computer and Instrumentation Council Young Investigator Award Symposium: SNM-sponsored symposium and
competition in association with the SNM Computer and Instrumentation Council, for the best scientific abstracts on
computer and instrumentation nuclear medicine. Only abstracts submitted to categories within the Instrumentation &
Data Analysis track will be considered for this awards symposium. Applicants must be medical students, residents,
fellows or graduate students, or be within 5 years of completing a Ph.D. or certified nuclear medicine training
program or other residency or fellowship training program to be eligible for consideration (there is no age limit).
Molecular Targeting Probes - Radioactive & Nonradioactive
CATEGORIES:
1. Novel Radioactive Probes [chemistry and preliminary in vitro/in vivo work]: Radiochemical synthesis and
preliminary evaluation of radioactive molecules in cells and/or small animals.
2. Novel Nonradioactive Probes [chemistry and preliminary in vitro/in vivo work]: Synthesis and preliminary
evaluation of non-radioactive molecules in cells and/or small animals.
3. Probes for Neuroimaging: In vivo characterization of radioactive OR non-radioactive molecular targeting probes
for brain imaging applications.
4. Probes for Oncology: In vivo characterization of radioactive OR non-radioactive molecular targeting probes for
oncology applications.
5. Probes for Cell Trafficking, Gene Imaging, Cardiovascular & Broader Applications: In vivo characterization of
radioactive OR non-radioactive molecular targeting probes for areas not covered under categories 3 and 4,
including cardiovascular, cell trafficking, gene imaging, etc.
6. Automation & Technology Development: Automated synthesis of known or novel probes, developing new
equipment relating to molecular imaging such as synthesis modules, scanners, crystals, cyclotron targets, etc.
7. Radiopharmacy: Synthesis optimization of known probes, scientific work to adapt probe synthesis
methodologies to regulatory compliance, cGMP production of imaging probes, compounding of
radiopharmaceuticals for routine clinical use, and related topics. (Pharmacy students must submit
abstracts under this category to be considered for oral or poster presentation.)
8. Dosimetry & Image Analysis: Radiation dosimetry, image analysis, and other scientific reports pertaining to
radiation dose calculation, estimation and regulatory compliance.
Young Investigator Award Symposia
1. Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council (RPSC) Young Investigator Award Symposium: This SNM-sponsored
symposium and competition, in association with the SNM Radiopharmaceutical Sciences Council, is reserved for
the best scientific abstracts on radiopharmaceutical chemistry nuclear medicine submitted by young
investigators. NOTE: Only abstracts submitted to, and accepted for, categories within the Molecular Targeting
Probes – Radioactive & Nonradioactive track will be considered for the RPSC Young Investigator Award
Symposium.
2. Center for Molecular Imaging Innovation & Translation (CMIIT) Young Investigator Award (YIA) Symposium
(Name Change – formerly the Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence [MICoE]): CMIIT-sponsored symposium
and competition for the best scientific abstracts that incorporate non-nuclear molecular imaging agents and
techniques. Abstracts on dual-labeled nuclear and non-nuclear probes and agents are included. Basic science,
pre-clinical, translational and clinical abstracts will be considered. Applicants must be medical students,
residents, fellows or graduate students, or be within 5 years of completing a Ph.D. or certified nuclear
medicine training program or other residency or fellowship training program to be eligible for consideration
(there is no age limit).
The objective of the CMIIT YIA session is to recognize promising young investigators working in the field of
molecular imaging that incorporates non-nuclear techniques. To be considered, authors must check the “CMIIT
Young Investigator Award Symposium” checkbox during abstract submission. IMPORTANT NOTE: Abstracts
submitted to any track within the Physician/Scientist/Pharmacist role can be considered for the CMIIT YIA
Symposium. However, the author may ONLY select either the CMIIT YIA OR a track-specific symposium (e.g., if
submitting to Cardiovascular track, submitter can select EITHER Cardiovascular YIA OR CMIIT YIA symposium).
Submitters cannot be considered for both symposium competitions.
Non-Radioactive Topics include:

Apoptosis
 MR spectroscopy
 Nanoparticles
 Reporter genes
 Optical probes & imaging
 Novel oncologic agents
 Receptor imaging
 MR, CT & ultrasound
 Antibody targeting & imaging
 Stem cell & tissue regeneration

 Imaging DNA repair
Hypoxia
 Cellular imaging and trafficking
 In vivo quantification methods
 Bioluminescence imaging
 Cardio/Neuro/Oncology MI
General Clinical Specialties*
Endocrinology/Neuroendocrine: Clinical investigations of endocrine/neuroendocrine disorders (including malignancies)
using diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals; pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo studies using animal models; thyroid
cancer therapy.
Gastroenterology: Clinical investigations of hepatobiliary or gastrointestinal diseases; pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo
studies using animal models.
Infectious Disease/Hematology: Clinical investigations of infectious diseases using radiopharmaceuticals; pre-clinical in
vitro or in vivo studies using animal models.
Musculoskeletal: Clinical investigations of new methods for the clinical assessment of bone, joint and soft tissue
pathology using established radiopharmaceuticals, new imaging agents or methods; pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo studies
using animal models.
Pediatrics: All clinical and pre-clinical investigations involving the pediatric population should be submitted here rather
than to other sections, e.g. renal, oncology, PET, cardiac, bone, etc.
Pulmonary: New methods for clinical assessment of lung function using radiopharmaceuticals; new imaging agents in
clinical trials; effects of pathology, drug, and environmental factors on function; pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo studies.
Renal/Hypertension: New methods for clinical assessment of renal function using established and new
radiopharmaceuticals; studies of the effects of pathology, environmental effectors, drug interactions, etc. on function
and renovascular hypertension; pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo studies using animal models.
Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research & Radiation Safety: Outcomes-based clinical research; studies
comparing different imaging modalities; projects performing analysis either on the accuracy of new or established
techniques or evaluations of the cost effectiveness of a technique.
------------------------------------------------------------*Please note that all topics that encompass oncology imaging and therapy should be submitted to respective categories
under the Oncology: Clinical Diagnosis track (except for endocrine tumors including thyroid and neuroendocrine
malignancies; these abstracts should be submitted to the Endocrinology/Neuroendocrine category).
Clinical investigations of tumors in the CNS should be submitted to the Neurology category in the Neurosciences track.
Oncology: Basic, Translational & Therapy*
Basic Science
Pre-clinical in vitro or in vivo (animal) studies of diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals or non-nuclear probes
for molecular imaging should be submitted to this category. Also considered are non-clinical studies that use nuclear or
non-nuclear probes to elucidate the pathophysiology of malignancy; non-clinical studies that investigate
radiopharmaceutical mechanisms of action in oncology; and preliminary (Phase I) human studies of
radiopharmaceuticals intended for applications in oncology diagnosis or therapy. Abstracts pertaining to
Translational/Preclinical Molecular Imaging should be submitted to this category.
Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
Pre-clinical (animal) and clinical (human) investigations using established or investigational radiopharmaceuticals as
Oncology therapeutic agents.
Image-Guided Therapy
Clinical investigations in human subjects, or pre-clinical studies in animal models, using radiopharmaceuticals or nonnuclear probes as adjuncts to the performance of image-guided invasive therapeutic procedures.
Technical Advances & Quantification
Clinical use of quantitative models in oncology; other translational, multidisciplinary, or multimodality investigations
combining Molecular Imaging techniques with those of other disciplines as part of an integrated approach to oncology
diagnosis or therapy.
*Note: Clinical investigations involving pediatric populations should be submitted to the Pediatric category in the
General Clinical Specialties Track.
Nuclear Oncology Young Investigator Award Symposium: SNM-sponsored symposium and competition, in association
with the SNM Nuclear Oncology Council, for the best scientific abstracts on Nuclear Oncology related topics in nuclear
medicine, is designated as the SNM Nuclear Oncology Young Investigator Award. The objectives of this award session
are to identify promising young investigators working in Nuclear Oncology related fields in nuclear medicine. To be
considered, authors must check the “Nuclear Oncology Council Young Investigator Award Symposium” checkbox during
abstract submission.
Requirements and guidelines for the Nuclear Oncology YIA Symposium:

Applicants must be medical students, residents, fellows or graduate students, or be within 5 years of
completing a Ph.D. or certified nuclear medicine training program or other residency or fellowship training
program to be eligible for consideration (there is no age limit).

The abstract must be original research, not previously published or presented.

All applicants are encouraged to submit supporting data (references, table, and/or image), to allow a better
evaluation of their work. Supporting data will not to be published.

Applicants submitting more than 1 abstract, in contention for other SNM YI awards, may win only one award.

All applicants must choose “Oral or Poster” presentation type; abstracts submitted as “Poster Only” or accepted
as poster presentations will not be considered for this symposium.

Seven (7) finalists (abstract presenters) will be included as part of the Nuclear Oncology Council Young
Investigator Award Symposium session. The award winners will be notified AFTER giving their presentations
(presentation performances will be rated) during the SNM Annual Meeting at the SNM Nuclear Oncology Council
business meeting
o Monetary prizes + certificate are awarded to the Presenting Author of the abstract
Oncology: Clinical Diagnosis*
Clinical investigations using radiopharmaceuticals in human subjects for the purpose(s) of diagnosis, initial staging, or
restaging of solid tumors or hematologic malignancy, or for the noninvasive monitoring of response to therapy should
be submitted to this track. Authors submitting to the Oncology: Clinical Diagnosis track must select 1 of the 10
categories available:










Breast Cancer
Prostate/GU
Lung
GI – Colorectal and Liver
GI – Noncolorectal
Sarcoma/Melanoma
Leukemia/Lymphoma/Myeloma
Head & Neck
Gynecological
Other Tumors
*NOTES:
1. Clinical investigations of endocrine and neuroendocrine tumors should be submitted to the
Endocrinology/Neuroendocrine category within the General Clinical Specialties track.
2. Clinical investigations of tumors in the CNS should be submitted to the Neurology category in the Neurosciences
track.
3. Clinical investigations involving pediatric populations should be submitted to the Pediatric category in the general
Clinical Specialties Track.
4. Although the Nuclear Oncology Council Young Investigator Award Symposium (NOC YIA) resides in the OncologyBasic track, abstracts submitted to the either the Oncology: Basic, Translational & Therapy OR Oncology: Clinical
Diagnosis tracks are eligible to apply for the NOC Young Investigator Award Symposium.
5. Authors submitting an abstract to either of the Oncology tracks will have the option to apply for the track-specific
NOC YIA OR the CMIIT YIA symposia; however, authors cannot apply to, or be considered for, both NOC and CMIIT
YIA symposia.
_______________________________________________________________________
TRACK & CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS – Educational Exhibits
EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS TRACK*
Educational Exhibits are abstract submissions representing a review of any clinical or research topic. Although mainly
designed for educators and physicians, Educational Exhibits are open to all submitting authors. All submissions must be
checked off with “Poster Only” presentation preference. Unlike other submissions, these posters will not include new,
original research, but must be educational in nature.
Educational exhibits should be designed to teach or review common nuclear medicine/PET findings, pathologic
correlations, procedures, techniques, treatments, and interventions or other aspects related to the practice of nuclear
medicine/PET. They can include a single or multi-modality approaches, and there is no definite number of
cases/procedures to be included. Exhibits should encourage Annual Meeting attendees to learn about current ideas and
practices in nuclear medicine/PET, and should encourage attendees to return numerous times during the meeting to
study the exhibits. Clinically-oriented exhibits should be amply illustrated with images.
This program is designed mainly for Nuclear Medicine residents and other young professionals, Nuclear Medicine
Program Directors, and Program Directors and Educators in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology, but is open to
submissions from all authors.
There are 6 categories available when submitting an abstract to the Educational Exhibits track:

Cardiovascular Sciences: exhibits containing nuclear medicine topics related to basic and clinical sciences in
cardiac or vascular disorders

Neurosciences: exhibits containing nuclear medicine topics related to radiotracers (particularly for studying
CNS), neurologic and psychiatric disorders with radiopharmaceuticals, and functional brain mapping

Radiopharmaceutical Sciences: exhibits containing nuclear medicine topics related to radiopharmaceutical
sciences, radiation dosimetry, and radiobiology

General Clinical Specialties: exhibits containing nuclear medicine topics related to endocrinology,
gastroenterology, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, pediatrics, pulmonary function, and renal
function/renovascular hypertension

Oncology: exhibits containing nuclear medicine topics related to basic science, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic
radiopharmaceuticals, and hematological disorders in oncology

Correlative Imaging (including instrumentation, image fusion and data analysis): exhibits containing nuclear
medicine topics related to instrumentation, image generation, image fusion and data analysis
*Note: Nuclear Medicine Technologists and/or Technologist Students submitting an EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT abstract,
whether intended to be accepted as an oral or poster presentation, should indicate the following track and category
during abstract submission:
Track: Technologist Abstracts
Category: Professional Practices & Educational Exhibits (NEW)
This will indicate to the Scientific Program Committee that the content of the abstract submission will need to be peerreviewed by a group of technologists rather than physicians, scientists, and/or pharmacists.
TRACK & CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS – Technologists
TECHNOLOGIST TRACK
Cardiovascular Sciences: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer and radiopharmaceutical
developments, new methods for analysis and technical aspects of established procedures specific to the clinical
assessment of the cardiovascular system. This category includes both PET and conventional instrumentation and
radionuclides.
Clinical PET: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer and radiopharmaceutical developments, and new
methods for analysis and technical aspects of established PET procedures.
Diagnostic & Therapeutic Nuclear Medicine: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer and
radiopharmaceutical developments, and new methods for analysis and technical aspects of established nuclear medicine
procedures specific to the clinical assessment and therapy.
Instrumentation & Data Analysis: Abstracts reporting investigations of new developments, existing applications and
performance and evaluation of nuclear medicine instrumentation and methods and programs available for data analysis
not specific to SPECT or PET.
Neurosciences: Abstracts reporting investigations of the technical aspects and/or new methods of analysis for the
clinical assessment of CNS function or specific neuropsychiatric disorders using established or new
radiopharmaceuticals. Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer, and radiopharmaceutical developments,
new methods for analysis and technical aspects of established PET procedures – that are specific to the clinical
assessment of the central nervous system and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Pre-clinical Studies (in vitro & animal efforts): Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer and
radiopharmaceutical developments and new methods for analysis and technical aspects of procedures specific to in vitro
or animal studies.
Professional Practices & Educational Exhibits: Abstracts reporting the evaluation of managerial, educational and
teaching practices, skill sets and professional competencies. This is also the category in which Technologists and/or
Technologist Students are to submit abstract(s) intended for the Educational Exhibits track.
Radiopharmaceutical Science, Biology & Dosimetry: Abstracts reporting investigations of radiation safety and/or
radiation dosimetry and biology as it pertains to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and PET procedures.
CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS – Technologist Students
TECHNOLOGIST STUDENT TRACK
Cardiology: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer, and radiopharmaceutical developments, new
methods for analysis and technical aspects of established nuclear medicine procedures specific to the clinical
assessment of the cardiovascular system.
General: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer, and radiopharmaceutical developments, new methods
for analysis and technical aspects of established nuclear medicine procedures specific to the clinical assessment and
therapy. General specialties for the following can be placed in this category: bone/joint, endocrinology,
gastroenterology, pediatrics, pulmonary and renal diseases.
PET: Abstracts reporting investigations of camera, computer, and radiopharmaceutical developments, new methods for
analysis and technical aspects of established PET procedures specific to the clinical assessment and treatment of physical
and mental disorders.
Instrumentation: Abstracts reporting investigations of new developments, existing applications and performance and
evaluation of nuclear medicine instrumentation and methods and programs available for data analysis.
Radiopharmacy: Abstracts reporting investigations of labeled compounds that have not been extensively reported and
how they pertain to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and PET procedures.
Radiation Safety & Patient Care: Abstracts reporting investigations of radiation safety and/or radiation
dosimetry/biology as it pertains to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine and PET procedures.